Maybe the famous preacher in this blog post could be Jesus. Je, umewahi kujiuliza, what Jesus would be like in our time?
A famous preacher comes to the church
Kufikiria, you hear that a famous preacher is coming to your church. You’ve heard and read a lot about this famous preacher, and about all the signs and wonders that follow him.
You’re so excited, Kwamba unaamua kupanga sherehe ya chakula cha jioni. Haujamwalika tu mhubiri huyu maarufu, lakini pia mchungaji, Wazee wachache, na washiriki wengine wa kanisa.
You have made all the necessary dinner preparations and are all set! Then it’s time, and all the invited guests arrive and take their seats at the dinner table.
An awkward silence during dinner with the preacher
Everyone is excited, Na kuna ambiance nzuri. You begin to serve the first course. After you’re done, you sit down and prepare for prayer. But then something awkward happens. The preacher starts eating.
You are surprised by his behaviour and at the same time a bit confused. You look at the others that are waiting with folded hands, ready to pray. They all look at the preacher that is enjoying his food.
Hujui jinsi ya kushughulikia hali hii, Na kuna ukimya mbaya.
Halafu ghafla mhubiri maarufu anatokea, and says with a calm voice, "You are surprised that I don’t pray out loud, pamoja na wewe as a mere formality. You don’t approve this behaviour. Lakini wacha tuzungumze juu yako na matendo yako. Unatabasamu na kutenda kwa urafiki na mcha Mungu mbele ya kila mtu, Na unazungumza mambo hayo, ambayo watu wanataka kusikia. But you didn’t talk and acted that way to your husband and children before we arrived. And as soon as everyone leaves, Mtu mwingine mzima atatoka. You will speak evil behind their backs and gossip.
Vitendo vyako haviendani na maneno unayosema, Na ushauri unaowapa wengine. Unasema jambo moja, Lakini unafanya kinyume. You make a lot of promises, Ambayo hauhifadhi; Wewe ni mwongo.
Let’s not forget your tithing and offering, you only give your money to the church kwa receive more back. Unaishi baada ya mapenzi yako mwenyewe. And you only help people to be noticed. You put yourself on a pedestal and are selfish.
You criticize and judge others for the things you do in secret”.
Waigizaji wa maisha
Mchungaji anajaribu kusumbua mhubiri maarufu. But then the preacher confronts everyone at the table and says:
"You’re no better, Wewe ni sawa tu. You’re all actors of life; you act one way in front of people but as soon as they are gone you act another way. You all pretend to be so pious, while your heart and thinking don’t line up with your words. You all want others to see you and put you on a pedestal.
You’re all so fond and attached to your titles, nafasi, Na viti vyako mbele ya kanisa, Unahukumu na kuwatendea watu, Kulingana na muonekano wao, au kulingana na utajiri wao. You’re more focused on prosperity and wealth than the Kingdom of God, kwa sababu wewe love money and therefore money has become the center of your life”.
Mkusanyiko wa ushirika kanisani
Au fikiria, Una mkutano wa ushirika kanisani. You are having a good time with your fellow brothers and sisters. Wakati unakula na kunywa, Unajadili maswala ya kila siku na kushiriki ins zote na nje.
You’re having a good time, until this famous preacher comes in and says:
"You only focus on yourself. You make time to please yourself and to have a good time. You’re all so selfish. Hauelewi ufalme wa Mungu. Unawezaje kuwa na wakati mzuri, wakati kwa wakati huu, so many souls are lost?"
The famous preacher speaks hard words in the church
Then it’s time for the famous preacher to speak in the church. Many people have come to the church and are excited to hear the words of this famous preacher and see the signs and wonders.
But instead of preaching a motivational sermon, a confrontational sermon is preached, that a lot of people don’t like to hear.
The famous preacher tells them about his life, Jinsi alivyozaliwa mara ya pili kwa nguvu ya Roho Mtakatifu.
He speaks about laying down his own life so that he could walk as kiumbe kipya; mwana wa Mungu.
The famous preacher tells them that he is a son of God and the Holy Spirit dwells in him.
He continues and tells the congregation that it is impossible to keep walking in sin if you have become a new creation. Ukitembea katika dhambi, wewe ni mtumwa wa dhambi, and therefore a slave of the devil who sinned against God.
Watu wengi hawafurahishi. Hawapendi kusikia maneno haya yasiyopendeza na ngumu. Hawapendi mhubiri huyu kabisa. The people like the signs and wonders, Lakini hawapendi maneno yake.
Wanamkuta mcha Mungu, Kidini sana, pia ya kisheria, mtindo wa zamani, na kadhalika.. Kwa sababu sio neema yote?
Kutaniko lote linakabiliwa na mtindo wao wa maisha, which most of them don’t appreciate. Most believers are offended at his words. Wanasimama na kuondoka kanisani.
Only a few people stay and listen to the words of this famous preacher. Instead of feeling offended, they feel sad and ashamed for their lifestyle. They are convicted of their sins and ask forgiveness and repent.
Je! Kanisa litafanya nini na mhubiri huyu?
Unafikiria nini, will this church invite this famous preacher again? Or will the church ask him to leave, as soon as he steps down from the pulpit, due to his hard words? Je! Mtu huyu alikuwa hapendi sana, kali, kihuni, huruma, na bila huruma?
What do you think about this famous preacher after these incidents? Je! Bado ungempongeza? Would you still see him the same way as you did before: kama mtu wa Mungu? Je! Bado unataka kushirikiana naye, follow him, and listen to his messages?
A havoc in the church
Wiki mbili baadaye, Unafungua gazeti la hapa na usome kichwa kifuatacho: Havoc in the church. You are curious and start reading: Mhubiri anayejulikana amesababisha mzozo katika duka la vitabu la kanisa ………
Could this famous preacher be Jesus?
This famous preacher could have been Jesus in our time. Miaka michache iliyopita, an article is written about Jesus Christ and Who Jesus really is.
Wahubiri wengi wana – and create(d) a wrong image of the true Jesus Christ.
They describe Jesus as some kind of ‘new age god’, ambaye anakubali kila kitu na huvumilia kila kitu. Instead of describing Jesus as a loving but also a righteous, Na Mungu Mtakatifu, Who hates sin and would never approve of sin.
Kwa sababu ya ukweli, that most Christians don’t read and study the Bible themselves, the truth is lost in the multitude of the words of man.
Kwa bahati mbaya, Udhibiti ni jambo la kawaida katika makanisa mengi. Mara nyingi picha ya upande mmoja imeundwa ambayo haihusiani na ukweli.
Sasa, let’s have a look at the Scriptures in the Bible from which these examples are inspired.
A Pharisee invited Jesus for dinner
As He spake, Mafarisayo fulani alimwomba kula naye: Akaingia, na kukaa chini kwa nyama. Na wakati Mafarisayo aliiona, Alishangaa kwamba alikuwa hajaosha kwanza kabla ya chakula cha jioni. Bwana akamwambia, Sasa je! Mafarisayo hufanya safi nje ya kikombe na sahani; Lakini sehemu yako ya ndani imejaa kunguru na uovu. Nyinyi wapumbavu, Je! Yeye hakufanya kile ambacho bila kufanya kile kilicho ndani pia? Lakini badala yake toa zawadi za vitu kama vile; na, tazama, Vitu vyote ni safi kwako.
Lakini ole kwako, Mafarisayo! Kwa maana ya zaka na rue na kila aina ya mimea, na kupitisha hukumu na upendo wa Mungu: Hawa unapaswa kufanya, Na sio kuacha nyingine. Ole wenu, Mafarisayo! Kwa maana mnapenda viti vya juu zaidi katika masinagogi, na salamu katika masoko. Ole wenu, waandishi na Mafarisayo, Wanafiki! Kwa maana ni kama kaburi ambazo hazionekani, na wanaume wanaotembea juu yao hawajui.
"Pia unatutukana"
Kisha akajibu mmoja wa mawakili, akamwambia, Mwalimu, Kwa hivyo ukisema unatudharau pia.
Na akasema, Ole kwako pia, nyinyi mawakili! Kwa maana wanaume wa Lade wenye mzigo mkubwa wa kubeba, Nanyi nyinyi hamgusa mzigo na moja ya vidole vyako. Ole wenu! Kwa maana mnaunda sehemu za manabii, Na baba zako waliwaua. Kweli mnashuhudia kwamba unaruhusu matendo ya baba zako: kwa maana waliwaua, Na wewe kujenga sepulchres yao. Kwa hivyo pia alisema hekima ya Mungu, Nitawatumia manabii na mitume, na baadhi yao wataua na kuwatesa: Kwamba damu ya manabii wote, ambayo ilimwagika kutoka msingi wa ulimwengu, inaweza kuhitajika kwa kizazi hiki; Kutoka kwa damu ya Abeli hadi damu ya Zacharias, ambayo iliangamia kati ya madhabahu na hekalu: Hakika nakuambia, Itahitajika kwa kizazi hiki.
Ole wenu, mawakili! Kwa maana mmeondoa ufunguo wa maarifa: Nyinyi haujaingia ndani yako, na wale ambao walikuwa wakiingia ndani ulizuia. Na kama alivyosema mambo haya kwao, Waandishi na Mafarisayo walianza kumhimiza kwa nguvu, na kumfanya azungumze juu ya mambo mengi: Kuweka subiri, na kutafuta kupata kitu kinywani mwake, Ili waweze kumshtaki (Luka 11:37-53)
Wanafunzi wengi walimwacha Yesu, kwa sababu ya maneno yake magumu
Yesu akawaambia, Hakika, hakika, Nawaambia, Ila msipoula mwili wa Mwana wa Adamu, na kunywa damu yake, hamna uzima ndani yenu. Alaye mwili Wangu, na anakunywa damu yangu, ana uzima wa milele; nami nitamfufua siku ya mwisho. Kwa maana mwili wangu ni nyama kweli, na damu yangu ni kinywaji hakika. Yeye aulaye mwili Wangu, na anakunywa damu yangu, anakaa ndani Yangu, na mimi ndani yake. Kama vile Baba aliye hai alivyonituma Mimi, nami ninaishi kwa Baba: ndivyo anilaye Mimi, hata yeye ataishi kwa ajili yangu. Huu ndio mkate ulioshuka kutoka mbinguni: si kama baba zenu walivyokula mana, na wamekufa: Yeye anayekula mkate huu ataishi milele.
Vitu hivi vilisema yeye katika sinagogi, kama alivyofundisha huko Capernaum. Wengi kwa hiyo wanafunzi wake, Wakati walikuwa wamesikia hii, sema, Hii ni msemo mgumu; Nani anaweza kusikia? Wakati Yesu alijua ndani yake kwamba wanafunzi wake walinung'unika, Akawaambia, Je! Hii inakukosea? Nini na ikiwa mtaona mwana wa mwanadamu akipanda mahali alipokuwa hapo awali? Ni roho inayohuisha; Mwili haufaidi chochote: Maneno ninayosema na wewe, Wao ni roho, Wao ni maisha.
Lakini kuna baadhi yenu ambao hawaamini. Kwa maana Yesu alijua tangu mwanzo walikuwa ni nani aliyeamini, Na ni nani anayepaswa kumsaliti.
Na akasema, Kwa hivyo nilisema mimi, Kwamba hakuna mtu anayeweza kuja kwangu, Isipokuwa alipewa baba yangu. Kuanzia wakati huo wanafunzi wake wengi walirudi, Na hakutembea tena naye (Yohana 6:53-66)
The people didn’t believe the words of Jesus because they didn’t belong to His sheep
Na Yesu akatembea Hekaluni kwenye ukumbi wa Sulemani. Halafu Wayahudi walizunguka juu yake, akamwambia, Je! Unatufanya tuwe na shaka? Ikiwa wewe ni Kristo, Tuambie wazi. Yesu akawajibu, Nilikuambia, Na haukuamini: Kazi ambazo mimi hufanya kwa jina la baba yangu, Wananishuhudia.
Lakini hauamini, Kwa sababu wewe sio kondoo wangu, Kama nilivyokuambia. Kondoo wangu husikia sauti yangu, Na ninawajua, Nao wananifuata: Na mimi huwapa uzima wa milele; na hawatapotea kamwe, Wala mtu yeyote hatawaondoa mikononi mwangu. Baba yangu, ambayo ilinipa, ni kubwa kuliko yote; Na hakuna mtu anayeweza kuwaondoa mikononi mwa baba yangu. Mimi na baba yangu ni mmoja.
Halafu Wayahudi walichukua mawe tena ili kumtoa mawe. Yesu akawajibu, Kazi nyingi nzuri nimekuonyesha kutoka kwa baba yangu; Kwa nini kati ya kazi hizo unanipa jiwe (Yohana 10:23-32)
Utakaso wa hekalu
Na Pasaka ya Wayahudi ilikuwa karibu, Na Yesu akaenda Yerusalemu, Na kupatikana Hekaluni wale ambao waliuza ng'ombe na kondoo na njiwa, na wabadilishaji wa pesa wamekaa: Na wakati alikuwa amefanya janga la kamba ndogo, Aliwafukuza wote kwenye hekalu, na kondoo, na ng'ombe; na kumwaga wabadilishaji’ pesa, na kupindua meza; Akawaambia ambao waliuza njiwa, Chukua mambo haya kwa hivyo; Usifanye nyumba ya baba yangu iwe nyumba ya bidhaa. Na wanafunzi wake walikumbuka kuwa iliandikwa, Bidii ya nyumba yako imenila (Yohana 2:13-17)
Jesus spoke righteous words coming from the Father
Jesus didn’t only speak friendly words and He didn’t approve of all lifestyles, including the sins of man. He spoke righteous words coming from the Father, that were often confrontational and hard to hear
Yesu hakutembea kwa kuona, Lakini alitembea na kuongea juu ya kile kilicho ndani ya mioyo ya wanadamu.
Na Roho wa Bwana atakaa juu yake, Roho wa hekima na ufahamu, Roho wa shauri na uweza, roho ya maarifa na ya kumcha Bwana; Naye atamfanya awe na ufahamu wa haraka katika kumcha Bwana: wala hatahukumu kwa kuyafuata ayaonayo macho yake, wala usikemee baada ya kusikia kwa masikio yake: Bali kwa haki atawahukumu maskini, na ukaripie kwa adili wanyenyekevu wa dunia: naye ataipiga dunia kwa fimbo ya kinywa chake, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked (Isaya 11:2-4)
Yesu alifunua dhambi
Yesu hakukubali dhambi, Lakini alifunua yote (siri) sins that were in the lives of people. Aliwakabili na kuwaamuru wasitende dhambi tena. Kwa mfano, when Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus confronted her with her way of living, na akamwamuru asitende dhambi tena.
The truth is often hard, Na watu wengi hawako tayari kusikia ukweli. This used to be the case, and this still is the case. Hakuna kilichobadilika katika miaka yote.
Lakini ikiwa unataka kweli mfuate Yesu and live after the will of the Father, you must also accept these hard sayings of Jesus into your life and not reject them. When you reject these hard words, wewe kukataa Yesu pia.
Only when you hear the complete truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God, you can renew our minds with the truth, adjust your life to the truth, na kutembea katika kweli. When you apply the whole truth to your life, you shall walk in spiritual freedom, kama wana wa Mungu (hii inatumika kwa wanaume na wanawake).
Yesu alizungumza maneno magumu, not because He wanted to punish people or lay heavy laws upon the people. But He spoke these words of truth and of life so that the people could experience real spiritual freedom in Him; kwa maneno yake.
The freedom of this world leads the people in spiritual bondage of the devil. Ukweli tu, Yesu Kristo, opens your spiritual eyes so that you find out the truth and walk in it.
‘Kuweni chumvi ya dunia’
